PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar is the latest leader to insist that PAS should be in the new opposition coalition, stressing that the upcoming pact cannot be based on anger and bitterness.

She said this in reference to PAS' and DAP's refusal to work together after accusing each other of causing the disintegration of Pakatan Rakyat.

"If we want to take into consideration personal anger or bitterness, certainly it will be difficult to manage the differences.

"We are fighting Umno and BN regime, certainly it has to be more inclusive look at addressing...not just Party Amanah (Negara), but (also) any other political in existence to fight against the regime,"she told journalists in Putrajaya today.

Nurul Izzah (photo) said PKR is aiming for more inclusiveness in uniting any forces which are committed to the agenda of reform in the new opposition pact.

Quizzed if this include PAS, she replied firmly: "Yes".

Elaborating further on "forces for reform agenda", she said that even former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is on the offensive against the current government, was welcomed.

PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who was also present, did not want to comment on the matter.

'Tuan Ibrahim positive'

Yesterday, an upset DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng demanded PKR explain its insistence on having PAS in the new coalition despite the Islamic party being problematic when it was in Pakatan.

He said DAP was only willing to work with Parti Amanah Negara, a PAS splinter party, and would consider to go it alone in the coming polls if PAS joins the new opposition coalition.

Lim (photo) claimed that PAS had deviated from its policies, as it did not join the Bersih rally to protest against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's RM2.6 billion scandal.

However, Nurul Izzah pointed out not all PAS leaders disregarded the issue, citing PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and vice president Idris Ahmad as examples.

“I am very appreciative of Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man's consistent statements on the issues as PAS deputy president, not only in criticising 1MDB but also chastising Najib's (alleged) corruption.

“Also (the) attendance of Idris Ahmad during Bersih 4, at least it helps address this issue," she said.

Several PKR leaders had stressed that PAS should be in the new coalition, including Wan Azizah, deputy president Azmin Ali and vice-president Tian Chua.

It was reported that Amanah had also compromised by expressing willingness to work with PAS in the new coalition even though it had initially intended to replace PAS.

However, it remains unclear whether PAS is interested in the new coalition with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang yesterday brushing aside the proposal, stating that the new pact is only for winning the election while PAS' struggle is for Islam.

Wan Azizah: Baby steps

When met later at Low Yat Shopping Centre, Wan Azizah said PKR will focus on national issues such as bringing down the prime minister first, while the matter of forming a new opposition coalition would come later.

This was her response when asked about Hadi's vow that his party will not join the new opposition coalition.

"We have not formally formed (the new) Pakatan, he has a right to say whatever," she said.

Right now, the opposition needs to gather the numbers to pursue one of the solutions to save the country, that is a vote of no confidence against Najib, she said.

"Now, we are looking at a bigger issue," she stressed, adding the party will do things step by step.

She also noted PKR has yet to conduct a formal meeting to discuss the new opposition coalition.